NEW LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24178, 21 January 1942, Page 7

NEW LEADER

BURMESE GOVERNMENT PREDECESSOR'S DETENTION DISCOVERY BY REPORTERS (Reed. 9.21 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19 The Governor of Burma, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, called on Sir Paw Tun, Burmese Minister of Lands and Revenue, to form a Government. Sir Paw Tun stated that he was retaining the outgoing Ministers in an enlarged Cabinet. He had the full cooperation Bnd sympathy of his colleagues. He was grieved at the detention of the former Prime Minister, Maung Saw (who was arrested at the instance of the British Government) and in his absence he had pursued the policy Saw had laid down and partially executed. Sir Paw Tun added that he realised ho must not let the country down at the most crucial moment in her history. Saw, who is 41 years old, is reported to have become an admirer of Hitler after reading Mein Kampf, and planned to introduce several National Socialist reforms in Burma. The London Evening News political correspondent understands that Saw is being detained in the United States as a result of the British Government action. The circumstances of his detention and his whereabouts are not disclosed. San Francisco newspapers reveal that Saw passed through San Francisco en route to Honolulu on December 6 on the Clipper, but after several days lie secretly returned to San Francisco and begged reporters who recognised him not to reveal his presence. He then disappeared. The reporters complied with Saw's request not to publish his return, but made contact with the local British authorities, who professed great interest in his secret return.